Genetically modified plants in Belgium

Although the cultivation of GM plants approved by the EU is permitted in Belgium, no cultivation has taken place so far. Currently, there are not even field trials – the last ended in 2002.

Commercial cultivation

Belgium has no specific bans on certain GM plants, nor has it excluded varieties of GM maize from its variety listing. However, the Bt maize varieties on the EU variety list are not nationally useful since the European corn borer has not (yet) been spotted in Belgium. Consequently, no commercial cultivation is being undertaken.

Field trials

The last field trials in Belgium were in 2002, and included sugar beet, chicory, maize, oilseed rape, and apple trees; however, they did not include questions of co-existence. No field trials have been conducted in Belgium since 2003.